In Exodus 21:7-8, we find laws that were given to the Israelites through Moses regarding Hebrew servants, particularly focusing on the situation of a daughter sold into servitude by her father. The passage reads:

“If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her.”

This law reflects the social and economic realities of ancient Israelite society, which was patriarchal and where servitude was a practice. It is important to understand these laws in their historical and cultural context. The passage indicates a concern for the welfare and protection of a female servant, especially in the scenario where she might not be taken as a wife or concubine by the man who purchased her. The law provided a measure of protection by allowing for her redemption (likely by her family) if the arrangement did not lead to marriage, thus preventing her from being sold to a foreigner and potentially facing a worse fate.

Such passages can be challenging to reconcile with modern sensibilities about individual rights and autonomy. However, they are part of the broader narrative of the Bible, which includes the unfolding revelation of God’s justice, mercy, and redemption. Throughout the Bible, there is a trajectory toward greater understanding and expression of God’s love and justice, culminating in the teachings and person of Jesus Christ, who affirmed the value and dignity of all individuals.